Manipur Cong dissidents to demand ouster of O Ibobi Singh

Imphal, Dec 15 (UNI) Congress dissidents in Manipur have decided to launch a fresh campaign in New Delhi to demand the ouster of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

AICC General secretary in-charge of Northeast and Minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office Prithiviraj Chavan, who had visited the state to take stock of the situation, returned to Delhi on December 13.

Mr Chavan had held extensive interactions with the rebel leaders, Ministers and MLAs and will submit a report to the Congress High Command on the internal crisis.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the state had been divided into two separate camps and the rebels claimed that about 20 Congress MLAs, out of the total 31, were supporting them.

The rebel leaders said they will be reaching New Delhi within three days to agitate against the Chief Minister.

State Pradesh Congress president Gaikhangam, who had earlier resigned from the Ibobi government, was also supporting the dissidents, though he had not spoken anything against the Chief Minister on record.

Mr Gaikhangam said the problem was an internal one and would be resolved soon.

The dissidents said they wanted Mr Singh to be replaced alleging he had failed to control the law and order situation and ''favoured only his constituency in the recruitment process''.

Mr Singh had been serving as the Manipur Chief Minister since 2002 and took charge of the office for the second time after the elections in February.

Congress leaders felt that the Central leaders might take a decision on the change of leadership after the Gujarat elections.

UNI